Waste container with anti-microbial agent

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a waste container for receiving thrown up stomach contents. A waste container includes an elongated moisture proof bag having an open end, an inner surface and an outer surface. The area bounded by the bag open end and the bag inner surface defines an inner portion of the bag. A rigid ring integrally connects to the bag open end. At least one anti-microbial agent is located in the inner portion of the bag.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 10/348,657, filed on Jan. 21, 2003, and also claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/446,319, filed Feb. 7, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention relates to a waste container for receiving thrownup stomach contents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Often times health care providers have to deal with patients whohave a high probability of getting sick to their stomachs and vomiting.Such a situation occurs regularly in emergency rooms in hospitals andclinics.

[0004] Conventional waste containers are known that are hand held bypatients and health care providers. These include various vomit bags,dishes and bowls. However in many situations the patient or user of thevomit collecting device cannot do so on their own because of someincapacity. These patients require assistance from another to hold andhandle the vomit collecting device which is not only unpleasant, if theuser vomits, but also, in an emergency medical situation, ties upanother health care provider. Further, conventional waste containers aredifficult to seal shut after the user has vomited into the container.Thus, the contents of the container may spill. Moreover, the contents ofthe container may be bacterially active and therefore harmful to anyonewho accidentally comes into contact with the container contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a waste container for receivingthrown up stomach contents. The container includes an anti-microbialagent to eliminate bacteria and other harmful microorganisms that may bepresent in the contents of the waste container.

[0006] According to the invention the waste container for receivingthrown up stomach contents includes an elongated moisture proof baghaving an open end at the top of the bag and a rigid ring. The rigidring is located outside of the bag open end. The upper length of the bagin contact with the inner wall of the rigid ring may be secured to theinner wall of the ring by an adhesive, a thermal weld, or by a heatshrink. The waste container also includes anti-microbial agent(s) thatcan aide in sterilizing the contents of the bag. The anti-microbialagents may be a brick or a powder at the bottom of the inner portion ofthe bag, a topical coating integral with the inner surface of the bag ora component of the resin the bag is made from. The anti-microbial agentsmay include, but are not limited to, substances such as chlorhexidinegluconate, triclosan, silver ion impregnation, silver platinum or carbonimpregnation, MEDI-COAT™, SURFACINE™, OMACIDE®, INTERSEPT®, BIOPRUF® andVINYZENE®.

[0007] The waste container may also further comprise neck straps thatallow for hands free use of the container whereby the container can beworn around the neck of a patient and easily removed for disposal by thepatient or a health care attendant. In such an arrangement, elongatedneck straps are connected to the rigid ring at an end and include neckconnecting portions. The straps include a fabricated stress riser formedtherein between the end connected to the bag and the neck connectingportion. The neck straps are frangible and caused to break along thestress riser through the application of any inadvertent threshold forcewhich might become applied to either the bag, collar, strap, or patient.In the absence of such frangible feature, the patient might bestrangled.

[0008] In one embodiment the bag comprises a synthetic resin film suchas a polyethylene film. Likewise, the neck straps comprise a syntheticresin film such as a polyethylene film.

[0009] The fabricated stress riser may be a partial cut, a scored lineor a perforated line or other weakness formed in the neck strap.

[0010] These and other features and advantages of the invention will bemore fully understood from the following detailed description of theinvention taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the drawings:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste container having ananti-microbial agent at the bottom of the inside of the waste bag;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a waste container having ananti-microbial topical coating integral with the inner surface of thewaste bag;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a waste container having ananti-microbial agent as a component of the bag resin;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a waste container in accordancewith the present invention having elongated neck straps; and

[0016]FIG. 4A is a blow-up view of the stress riser portion of the wastecontainer neck strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 10 generallyindicates a waste container comprising an elongated moisture proof bag12 extending through the inside of a rigid ring 14. The rigid ring 14 isintegrally connected to a bag open end 16 of the bag 12.

[0018]FIG. 1 illustrates a waste container 10 in accordance with thepresent invention. An elongated moisture proof bag 12 extends throughthe inside of a rigid ring 14. The elongated moisture proof bag 12 hasan open end 16, an inner surface 18 and an outer surface 20. The areabounded by the bag open end 16 and the bag inner surface 18 defines aninner portion 22 of the elongated moisture proof bag 12. The rigid ring14 integrally connects to the bag open end 16. An anti-microbial agent24 in the form of a brick or powder rests at the bottom of the innerportion 22 of the bag 12.

[0019]FIG. 2 further illustrates a waste container 10 in accordance withthe present invention. In the waste container 10 of FIG. 2, a topicalanti-microbial coating 26 is integral with the bag inner surface 18.

[0020]FIG. 3 further illustrates a waste container 10 in accordance withthe present invention. In the waste container 10 of FIG. 3, ananti-microbial agent 36 is a component of the resin of the bag 12.

[0021]FIG. 4 illustrates a waste container 10 in accordance with thepresent invention having elongated neck straps 28. The elongated neckstraps 28 have a bag connecting end 30 connecting to the ring 14 at thebag open end 16 and a neck connecting portion 32. The waste container 10is set in front of the neck of a patient and the neck connectingportions 32 of the neck straps 28 are tied behind the neck of thepatient (not shown). The elongated neck straps 28 include fabricatedstress risers 34 formed therein along the width of the neck straps 28 inan area between the bag connecting end 30 and the neck connectingportion 32. FIG. 4A is a blow-up view of a stress riser 34 on a neckstrap 28. Application of a threshold force causes the neck straps 28 tobreak at the stress risers 34.

[0022] Although the invention has been described by reference to aspecific embodiment, it should be understood that numerous changes maybe made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described.Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to thedescribed embodiment, but that it have the full scope defined by thelanguage of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A waste container for receiving thrown up stomachcontents from a patient, said container comprising: an elongatedmoisture proof bag having an open end, an inner surface and an outersurface, wherein the area bounded by said bag open end and said baginner surface defines an inner portion of said elongated moisture proofbag; a rigid ring integrally connecting said bag open end; and at leastone anti-microbial agent located in said inner portion of said elongatedmoisture proof bag.
 2. A waste container as in claim 1, wherein saidanti-microbial agent is an anti-microbial brick located at the bottom ofsaid bag inner portion.
 3. A waste container as in claim 1, wherein saidanti-microbial agent is an anti-microbial powder located at the bottomof said bag inner portion.
 4. A waste container as in claim 1, whereinsaid anti-microbial agent is a topical anti-microbial coating integralwith said bag inner surface.
 5. A waste container as in claim 1, whereinsaid elongated moisture proof bag comprises a synthetic resin film.
 6. Awaste container as in claim 5, wherein said film comprises polyethylene.7. A waste container as in claim 5, wherein said anti-microbial agent isa component of said resin of said elongated moisture proof bag.
 8. Awaste container as in claim 1 further comprising elongated neck strapshaving a bag connecting end connected to said rigid ring and having aneck connecting portion.
 9. A waste container as in claim 8, whereinsaid elongated neck strap includes a fabricated stress riser formedtherein between said bag connecting end and said neck connectingportion, whereby said neck strap is caused to break along said stressriser through the application of a threshold force.
 10. A wastecontainer as in claim 8, wherein said neck strap comprises a syntheticresin film.
 11. A waste container as in claim 10, wherein said filmcomprises polyethylene.
 12. A waste container as in claim 9, whereinsaid fabricated stress riser is one of a scored line, a partial cutthrough, and a perforated line.
 13. A method for collecting thrown upstomach contents comprising the steps of: integrally connecting anelongated moisture proof bag open end to a rigid ring; and inserting aanti-microbial agent into the open end of the elongated moisture proofbag.